Radioactive iodine-labeled compound

ABSTRACT

A radioactive iodine-labeled compound represented by the following formula (I):  
                 
 
wherein X represents a radioactive iodine atom which may substitute at an arbitrary position on the benzene ring (preferably  123 I,  125 I and the like.), n represents an integer of 1 to 3, R 1  and R 2  each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (preferably methylene group), M represents a counter ion, and m represents the number of ions required to neutralize the charge of the molecule. A radioactive iodine-labeled compound that can selectively accumulate in tumor cells or tumor tissue and a scintillation imaging agent containing the compound are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel radioactive iodine-labeledcompound and a scintigraphy imaging agent.

RELATED ART

For therapeutic treatment of a disease, it is important to detectmorphological and functional changes in a living body resulting from thedisease in an early stage of the disease. In particular, for treatmentof cancer, first observation of location and size of a tumor may becomehighly important means to determine strategy of subsequent therapeutictreatments. Examples of the methods already tried include biopsy bycentesis or the like, as well as image diagnostic methods such as X-rayimaging, MRI imaging and ultrasonography. Although biopsy is effectivefor definite diagnosis, it imposes much stress on subjects to beexamined, and is not suitable for longitudinal observation of changes inlesions.

As one of noninvasive image diagnostic methods utilizing a physiologicalfunction of a pathological site, a method is known in which imaging by aradionuclide procedure is carried out by using a compound containing aradioactive isotope as a scintigraphy imaging agent. Scintigraphyimaging is considered to be breakthrough, overcoming the limits ofconventional tumor diagnostic methods such as image diagnosis bymorphological visualization (CT, MRI, ultrasonography), and promisingmeans for examination of microcarcinoma or systemic carcinoma anddetection of recurrent carcinoma.

A scintigraphy imaging agent is required to have an ability todistinguish a normal site from a tumor site and to selectivelyaccumulate in a tumor site. Examples of compounds having suchaccumulating property in tumor include, for example, porphyrin compoundssuch as hematoporphyrin used in the photodynamic therapy (PDT)(photophyrin, benzoporphyrin and the like are also included in thisgroup of compounds, see, Lipspn R. L. et al., ibid.; Meng T. S. et al.,SPIE (1992) 1641, 90-98; WO84/04665 and the like). However, since thesecompounds are originally used in PDT, they have phototoxicity (thisproperty is required for PDT), and hence they are not desirable asdiagnostic agents. Moreover, tumor selectivity of these compounds is notsufficient.

As one of the tumor targeting methods, a method of therapeutic treatmentof hepatic cancer is also known in which lipiodol as an oily imagingagent having high tumor selectivity is used as a base material, and asynthetic polymeric antitumor agent (antitumor agent obtained byreacting monobasic acid anhydride of styrene maleic acid with aproteinous antitumor agent, neocarzinostatin) is dissolved in the basematerial and then the solution is injected into hepatic artery (Maeda etal., Gan to Kagakuryoho (Cancer and Chemotherapy), vol. 12, 3, PART II,773-781, March 1985). Further, Rhodamine 123, a lipid-soluble cationcompound, was found to have accumulating property in tumor (Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 79, 5292-5296 (1982)), and this property was reportedto be derived from a difference in mitochondrial membrane electricpotential between normal cells and tumor cells (J. Biol. Chem., 260,13844-13850 (1985)). Rhodamine 123 is a monovalent cation compoundhaving high lipid-solubility due to delocalization of π electrons. Aclass of compounds that selectively accumulate in tumor by utilizing anelectric potential difference caused by decrease of electric potentialof the mitochondrial inner membrane in tumor cells are genericallycalled as DLC (π-electron delocalized lipophilic cations).

Cyanine compounds and rhodacyanine compounds, which are spectralsensitization pigments or dyes used in the field of photographicscience, are also lipid-soluble monovalent cation compounds similar toRhodamine 123, and several compounds having the property of accumulatingin tumor have been reported (as a typical compound, for example, MKT077:1-ethyl-2-[[3-ethyl-5-(3-methylbenzothiazolin-2-yliden)-4-oxothiazolidin-2-ylidene]methyl]pyridiniumchloride is described in J. Med. Chem., 40, 3151-3160 (1997)). Forexample, WO0/16810 discloses a method of using a cyanine compound, thatemits fluorescence in a near-infrared region having excellent tissuepermeability in vivo, as a fluorescence imaging agent by accumulation ina tumor, and Japanese Patent No. 2864188 discloses utilization of arhodacyanine compound as an antitumor agent. However, these patentdocuments relates to an object of increasing water solubility of thecompounds for the application as antitumor agents, and therefore, thecompounds fail to have sufficient accumulating property in tumor. Nomethod is known so far in which cationic compounds having highaccumulating property in tumor, in particular, cyanine and rhodacyaninedye compounds, are labeled with radioactive iodine nuclear species.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a scintillation imagingagent which enables specific imaging of tumor. In order to achieve theaforementioned object, the inventors of the present invention utilizedthe basic structure of MKT077 conventionally known as DLC, and conductedvarious researches on modification methods for introducing a radioactiveiodine atom into the basic structure without degrading the tumoraccumulating property of the compound. As a result, they found that thecompounds represented by the following formula (I) had highly potentproperty of accumulation in tumor cells, and accordingly, they had asuperior property as scintillation imaging agents. The present inventionwas achieved on the basis of the above findings.

The present invention thus provides radioactive iodine-labeled compoundsrepresented by the following formula (I):

wherein X represents a radioactive iodine atom which may substitute atany position on the benzene ring, n represents an integer of 1 to 3, R¹and R² each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkylgroup, Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Mrepresents a counter ion, and m represents the number of ions requiredto neutralize the charge of the molecule.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, providedare the aforementioned radioactive iodine-labeled compounds, wherein Xis ¹²³I or ¹²⁵I; the aforementioned radioactive iodine-labeledcompounds, wherein R¹ and R² each independently represent anunsubstituted alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms; and theaforementioned radioactive iodine-labeled compounds, wherein Yrepresents methylene group. As a particularly preferred compound, thefollowing radioactive iodine-labeled compound is provided.

From another aspect, the present invention also provides scintigraphyimaging agents, which comprise the aforementioned radioactiveiodine-labeled compounds and are used for imaging of a tumor site.According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the presentinvention, provided is the aforementioned scintigraphy imaging agents,which are used for imaging of tumor cells or tumor tissue. Further, thepresent invention also provides use of the aforementioned radioactiveiodine-labeled compounds for manufacture of the aforementionedscintigraphy imaging agents; methods for scintigraphy imaging, whichcomprise the step of administering a scintigraphy imaging agentcontaining the aforementioned radioactive iodine-labeled compound to amammal including human and then detecting radiation emitted from theradioactive iodine-labeled compound; and methods for imaging of tumorcells or tumor tissue, which comprises the step of administering ascintigraphy imaging agent containing the aforementioned radioactiveiodine-labeled compound to a mammal including human and then detectingradiation emitted from the radioactive iodine-labeled compound.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows ratios of accumulation of the compound of the presentinvention in tumor tissue and muscle tissue of a nude mouse.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

X represents a radioactive iodine atom, which may substitute at anarbitrary position on the benzene ring. Types of the radioactive isotopeof iodine atom are not particularly limited. Preferred examples include¹²²I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, or ¹³¹I. ¹²³I and ¹²⁵I are more preferred.Substituting positions and numbers (n) of X on the benzene ring are notparticularly limited. The compounds having two radioactive iodine atomsat the 2- and 4-positions of the benzene ring are preferred, and thecompounds having one radioactive iodine atom at the 4-position of thebenzene ring is more preferred.

R¹ and R² each independently represent a substituted or unsubstitutedalkyl group. In the specification, the alkyl group may be straight,branched, or cyclic, or a combination thereof. The cyclic alkyl groupincludes a polycyclic alkyl group such as a bicycloalkyl group, and alsoincludes a so-called steroid structure havingcyclopentanohydrophenanthrene structure. Alkyl moieties of othersubstituents containing the alkyl moiety have the same meaning. Thetypes, number and substituting positions of substituents on the alkylgroup are not particularly limited. Examples of the substituents on thealkyl group include a halogen atom (fluorine, chlorine, bromine oriodine), an alkenyl group (including a cycloalkenyl group and abicydoalkenyl group), an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclicgroup, cyano group, hydroxyl group, nitro group, carboxyl group, analkoxy group, an aryloxy group, silyloxy group, a heterocyclyloxy group,an acyloxy group, carbamoyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, anaryloxycarbonyloxy group, an amino group (including anilino group), anacylamino group, aminocarbonylamino group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group,an aryloxycarbonylamino group, sulfamoylamino group, an alkyl orarylsulfonylamino group, mercapto group, an alkylthio group, an arylthiogroup, a heterocyclylthio group, sulfamoyl group, sulfo group, an alkylor arylsulfinyl group, an alkyl or arylsulfonyl group, an acyl group, anaryloxycarbonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, carbamoyl group, an arylor heterocyclylazo group, imido group, phosphino group, phosphinylgroup, phosphinyloxy group, phosphinylamino group, silyl group and thelike. As R¹ and R², an unsubstituted alkyl group having 4 or less carbonatoms can be preferably used, and it is more preferred that R¹ and R²both represent ethyl group.

Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The alkylenegroup may be straight or branched, and may be substituted. When thealkylene group has a substituent, the substituents explained for thealkyl group can be used as the substituent. An unsubstituted alkylenegroup is preferably used. The number of carbon atoms in the alkylenegroup is preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 1 or 2. The most preferredalkylene group is methylene group.

M represents a counter ion. M may be a cation or an anion. Examples ofthe cation include an alkali metal ion such as sodium ion, potassium ionand lithium ion and an organic ion such as tetraalkylammonium ion andpyridinium ion. The anion may be an inorganic anion or an organic anion,and examples thereof include a halogen anion (for example, fluoride ion,chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion and the like), a substitutedarylsulfonate ion (for example, p-toluenesulfonate ion,p-chlorobenzenesulfonate ion and the like.), an aryldisulfonate ion (forexample, 1,3-benzenedisulfonate ion, 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate ion), analkylsulfate ion (for example, methylsulfate ion and the like.), sulfateion, thiocyanate ion, perchloride ion, tetrafluoroborate ion, picrateion, acetate ion, trifluoromethanesulfonate ion and the like. Further, Mmay be a hydrogen ion. M is preferably an anion. The anion is preferablya halogen anion, a substituted arylsulfonate ion or acetate ion, morepreferably chloride ion or p-toluenesulfonate ion.

Specific examples of the compound of the present invention will bementioned below. However, the scope of the present invention is notlimited to these examples. Compounds wherein Y is methylene group willbe mentioned as preferred embodiments of the present invention.

No. X R¹ R² M 1 ¹²⁵I Et Et p-TsO 2 ¹²⁵I Et Me Cl 3 ¹²⁵I Me Me Br 4 ¹²⁵IMe

p-TsO 5 ¹²⁵I

p-TsO 6 ¹²³I Et Et p-TsO 7 ¹²³I Et Me Cl 8 ¹²³I Me

p-TsO

The compounds of the present invention may have 1 or more asymmetriccenters. As for such compounds, stereoisomers such as optically activesubstances or diastereoisomers based on the asymmetric centers exist.Any stereoisomers in pure forms, any mixtures of stereoisomers,racemates and the like all fall within the scope of the presentinvention. Further, the compounds of the present invention may form ahydrate or a solvate, and these substances also fall within the scope ofthe present invention.

Methods for producing the compounds of the present invention are notparticularly limited, and the compounds of the present invention can beproduced by any appropriate method. In general, preparation of aradioactive iodine compound can be carried out by synthesizing acorresponding non-radioactive iodine compound and then employing a knownmethod described in Appl. Radiat. Isot., 37(8), 907 (1986) or the like.A method for producing typical compounds of the present invention willbe specifically described in detail in the scheme and the exampledescribed below. Therefore, those skilled in the art can readily produceany compounds represented by the formula (I) by referring to thisproduction method and suitably choosing starting compounds, reagents,reaction conditions and the like, and by suitably modifying or changingthe method as required.

For example, it would be easily understood by those skilled in the artthat the reaction similarly proceeds when an appropriatealkyliodobenzene derivative is used instead of the starting material 1C,and that a functional group such as bromine atom or tosyl group as aleaving group can be appropriately introduced at any position of thealkyl group in the alkyliodobenzene derivative. The alkyl group of thealkyliodobenzene derivative can be converted to an alkyl group having anappropriate length from an easily available starting compound, forexample, by the Wittig reaction, Barbier-Wieland decomposition,Arndt-Eistert synthesis, a method of using acetylide (for example,according to the method described in Tetrahedron Lett. 35, 9501 (1994)),a method of using chloroformic acid ester (described in, for example,Synthesis 427 (1986)), a method of using diethyl malonate (described in,for example, Arch. Pharm. (Weinheim) 328, 271 (1995)) or the like.Further, the iodine atom on the benzene ring of the alkyliodobenzenederivative can be introduced by using a benzene derivative as a startingmaterial, for example, according to the method described in Richard C.Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations (VCH).

The compounds represented by the aforementioned formula (I) have aproperty of accumulating in tumor cells, and scintigraphy imaging agentscontaining the compounds as an active ingredient can selectively image atumor cell or tumor tissue. Although it is not intended to be bound byany specific theory, the electric potential of mitochondria innermembrane is generally lower in tumor cells than in normal cells, and thecompounds of the present invention have a property of selectivelyaccumulating in tumor cells based on this electric potential difference.The imaging agent of the present invention can be preferablyadministered parenterally, more preferably intravenously. The agent maysometimes be orally administered. In general, the imaging agent of thepresent invention can be provided as an injection, preferably aninjection for intravenous administration, in the same manner asscintigraphy imaging agents conventionally used in this field. Theinjection may be provided as a lyophilized powder composition, which isdissolved in water or other suitable medium (for example, physiologicalsaline, glucose infusion, buffer and the like) upon use. A dose of theimaging agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, andthe dose may be selected depending on a type of tumor cells or tumortissue to be imaged, a size of a lesion, age and body weight of apatient and the like, so that radiation emitted in a lesion can bedetected from outside of a body.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be explained more specifically with referenceto the following examples. However, the scope of the present inventionis not limited to these examples. The compound numbers used in thefollowing examples correspond to the compound numbers used in the abovescheme.

Example 1 Synthesis of the Compound of the Present Invention

(1) Synthesis of Compound 1B

2-Picoline (Compound 1A, 0.46 g) and ethyl paratoluenesulfonate (1.00 g)were reacted at ₁₄₀° C. for 2.5 hours. The reaction mixture was cooledto 90° C., then added with acetone (2 ml), and further cooled to roomtemperature. The produced white precipitates were collected by suctionfiltration and recrystallized from acetone to obtain Compound 1B (yield:53.9%). Compound 1B was used in the subsequent reaction withoutpurification.

(2) Synthesis of Compound 1D

p-Iodotoluene (Compound 1C, 25 g), N-bromosuccinimide (23.5 g) andbenzoyl peroxide (375 mg) were added to carbon tetrachloride (375 ml)and refluxed with heating for 7 hours under photoirradiation. Further,the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, theninsoluble matters were removed by filtration, and the filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrated residue wasrecrystallized from ethyl acetate and hexane to obtain Compound 1D(yield: 60.3%).

NMR chemical shift, CDCls, TMS as standard

δ7.72 (d, 2H), 7.14 (d, 2H), 4.39 (s, 2H)

(3) Synthesis of Compound 1E

Compound 1D (6.14 g) and silver tosylate (6.08 g) were dissolved indehydrated acetonitrile (300 ml) and stirred at 50° C. for 5 hours. Theprecipitated silver bromide was removed by filtration, the filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was extracted withether. The ether layer was concentrated under reduced pressure, and thenthe residue was recrystallized from ether to obtain Compound 1E (yield:40.8%).

NMR chemical shift, CDCl₃, TMS as standard

δ7.75 (d, 2H), 7.51 (d, 2H), 7.35 (d, 2H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 5.08 (s, 2H),2.30 (s, 3H)

(4) Synthesis of Compound 1G

Compound 1E (1.00 g), 2-methylthiobenzothiazole (0.311 g) and anisole(0.435 ml) were stirred at 135° C. for 4 hours (production of Compound1F). The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and then addedwith 3-ethyl-rhodamine (0.277 g) and acetonitrile (6.2 ml), addeddropwise with triethylamine (0.28 g) while the reaction mixture wasmaintained at 15° C., and stirred at 10° C. for 4 hours. The yellowcrystals precipitated in the reaction mixture were collected by suctionfiltration and washed with acetonitrile and methanol. The obtained crudecrystals were suspended in acetone (300 ml), refluxed with heating for15 minutes and subjected to filtration while the reaction mixture wasstill hot. Further, the crystals were washed with methanol to obtainCompound 1G (yield: 65%).

NMR chemical shift, CDCl₃, TMS as standard

δ7.93 (d, 1H), 7.78 (d, 1H), 7.66 (d, 2H), 7.52 (t, 1H), 7.35 (t, 1H),7.14 (d, 2H), 4.83 (s, 2H), 4.10 (q, 2H), 1.20 (s, 3H)

(5) Synthesis of Compound 1H

Compound 1G (1.00 g) and methyl paratoluenesulfonate (2.24 g) were addedto N,N-dimethylformamide (1 ml) and stirred at 140° C. for 2.5 hours.The reaction mixture was cooled to 95° C., then added with acetone (8.8ml) and stirred with cooling to 10° C. The precipitated yellow crystalswere collected by filtration and then washed with acetone with heatingfor 15 minutes to obtain Compound 1H (yield: 64.2%).

NMR chemical shift, CDCls, TMS as standard

δ8.18 (d, 1H), 8.00 (d, 1H), 7.70 (dd, 1H), 7.66 (d, 2H), 7.52 (dd, 1H),7.46 (d, 2H), 7.14 (d, 2H), 7.10 (d, 2H), 4.83 (s, 2H), 4.17 (q, 2H),3.05 (s, 3H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 1.33 (t, 3H)

(6) Synthesis of Compound 1

Compound 1H (1.00 g) and Compound 1B (0.429 g) were added toacetonitrile (7.3 ml), heated to 70° C. and added with triethylamine(0.443 g), and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 hours at thesame temperature. The reaction mixture was added dropwise with ethylacetate (7.3 ml) and cooled to 30° C., and the produced crystals werecollected by filtration. The crude crystals were dissolved in methanol(4.7 ml), added with ethyl acetate (14.6 ml), stirred at 50° C. for 3hours, and then cooled to room temperature. The orange color crystalswere collected by filtration. Further, the crystals were dissolved inmethanol (1 ml), and the solution was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10minutes. The supernatant was concentrated under reduced pressure toobtain Compound 1 (yield: 32.1%).

Melting point: 268-270° C.

λmax (MeOH) [nm](e): 494 (4.82×10⁴)

NMR chemical shift, CDCl₃, TMS as standard

δ8.70 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.26 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.06 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H),7.88 (dd, J=8.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.61 (dd, J=8.0,8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.47 (dd, J=8.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.28(dd, J=8.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H),5.98 (s, 3H), 4.83 (s, 2H), 4.60 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 4.11 (q, J=7.2 Hz,2H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 1.43 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H), 1.24 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H)

(7) Synthesis of the Compound of the Present Invention

Compound 1 was added to 0.1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic layer was concentrated under reducedpressure. The concentrate (0.1 mg) was dissolved in methanol (100 g 1),added with 4 mM aqueous copper sulfate (5.0 μl), 0.15 M aqueous ammoniumsulfate (2.0 μl) and ¹²⁵I-NaI alkaline solution, and a reaction wasallowed at 120° C. in a closed system on an oil bath for 6 hours. Thecompound of the present invention was separated from the reactionmixture by HPLC with the following conditions.

Column: Chemco Lichrosorb, 7.5×300 mm

Detection wavelength: 254 nm

Flow rate: 3.0 ml/min

Column temperature: 30° C.

Elution solution: methanol:water=7:3

Yield: 60%

Radiochemical purity: >95%

Example 2 Property of Accumulation in Tumor Cells

(1) Media Used

(i) LS180 (Human Colon Cancer Cell), SHIN-III (Human Ovary Cancer Cell)and U87MG (Glioma)

A commercially available medium, RPMI1640 (Nissui, 5.1 g), was dissolvedin extra pure water (500 ml), autoclaved, and added with L-glutamine(0.15 g), Meylon (7% aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate, a pharmaceuticalpreparation for injection, 14 ml) and FBS (55 ml) in a clean bench toprepare a medium. Cells were cultured in this medium.

(ii) NIH3T3 (Fibroblast, Control)

A commercially available DMEM medium (Nissui) was dissolved in extrapure water (500 ml), autoclaved, and added with L-glutamine (0.15 g),Meylon (7% aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate, a pharmaceuticalpreparation for injection, 14 ml) and FBS (55 ml) in a clean bench toprepare a medium. Cells were cultured in this medium.

(2) Culture Method

(a) Thawing of Cryopreserved Cells

Cells cryopreserved in a medium containing 10% DMSO were thawed,transferred to a 15-ml Falcon tube, and added with PBS to a volume of 5ml. The mixture was centrifuged at 1300 rpm for 5 minutes. Thesupernatant was removed by suction, and the precipitates were suspendedin PBS (6 ml). The suspension was centrifuged again at 1300 rpm for 5minutes. The supernatant was removed by suction, and the precipitateswere suspended in a medium (10 ml), inoculated in a 10-cm dish and leftstanding at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ incubator.

(b) Time of Subculture

(i) LS180, SHIN-III and U87MG

After 3 days, when the cells were proliferated to 80 to 90% of the 10-cmdish, the cells were subcultured in a 15-cm dish.

(ii) NIH3T3

After 1 week, when the cells were proliferated to 80 to 90% of the 10-cmdish, the cells were subcultured in a 15-cm dish.

(c) Subculture

The 10-cm dish was taken out from the incubator, and the supernatant wasremoved by suction. The cells were washed three times with PBS, addedwith trypsin-EDTA (0.05% trypsin, 0.53 mM EDTA tetrasodium salt, 1 ml)and PBS (1 ml) and left standing in a CO₂ incubator for 10 minutes. Thedish was taken out from the incubator, and separation of the cells wasobserved. Then, the cells were transferred to a 15-ml Falcon tube. Thecells were added with PBS to a volume of 5 ml and centrifuged at 1300rpm for 5 minutes, and the supernatant was removed by suction. Theprecipitates were suspended in PBS (5 ml) and centrifuged at 1300 rpmfor 5 minutes, and the supernatant was removed by suction. Theprecipitates were suspended in a medium (8 ml), and inoculated in avolume of 4 ml each to two of 15-cm dishes, to which the medium (16 ml)was added beforehand, and left standing at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ incubator.

(d) Storage

When the cells proliferated to 80 to 90% of the 15-cm dish after 3 daysfor LS180, SHIN-III and U87MG or after 1 week for NIH3T3, the dish wastaken out from the incubator, and the supernatant was removed bysuction. The cells were washed three times with PBS, added withtrypsin-EDTA (3 ml) and PBS (3 ml) and left standing in a CO₂ incubatorfor 10 minutes. The dish was taken out from the incubator, andseparation of the cells was observed. Then, the cells were transferredto a 50-ml Falcon tube. The cells were added with PBS to a volume of 15ml and centrifuged at 1300 rpm for 5 minutes, and the supernatant wasremoved by suction. The precipitates were suspended in PBS (15 ml), andthe suspension was centrifuged again at 1300 rpm for 5 minutes. Thesupernatant was removed by suction, and the precipitates were suspendedin a medium containing 10% DMSO (8 ml). The suspension was divided intofour aliquots of 2-ml cryogenic tubes and stored at −80° C. in a deepfreezer.

(e) Uptake Experiment

Two days before the uptake experiment, the cells were inoculated on a24-well plate (500 ml of cell-suspended medium/well, 5 wells/plate perone type of cell). A medium (500 ml) containing the compound (0.5 μCi)obtained in Example 1 was substituted for the medium in 4 wells of the 5wells in which the cells were inoculated, and incubation was performed.After an uptake time (30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours), the supernatant wasremoved by suction for all of the wells. For the 4 wells to which thecompound of the present invention was added, the cells were separatedwith 0.2 N NaOH and subjected to measurement of radioactivity. For theremaining 1 well, trypsin-EDTA was added to separate the cells, and thenumber of cells was counted by using a blood cell counter. Percentdoses, which were converted to values for 100,000 cells based on thenumber of cells and radioactivity, and ratios relative to the normalcells (NIH3T3) were calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. Asshown from the results in Table 1, the compound of the present inventiongave about three times as much uptake in LS180 (human colon cancercells), about seven times as much uptake in SHIN-III (human ovary cancercell) and about 7 times as much uptake in U87MG (glioma) as in thenormal cells. TABLE 1 After 30 minutes After 1 hour After 3 hours LS1803.37 ± 0.31 5.33 ± 0.43 10.2 ± 0.97 SHIN-III 6.26 ± 0.73 11.7 ± 1.1625.2 ± 2.42 U87MG 3.19 ± 1.86 3.07 ± 0.09 5.32 ± 0.70 NIH3T3(control)1.40 ± 0.03 2.12 ± 0.14 3.34 ± 0.18Values are means ± S.D. as % dose/100000 cells

Example 3 Distribution Experiment In Vivo

1.0×10⁶ cells of SHIN-III human ovary cancer cells were subcutaneouslyinoculated in the femoral region of nude mice (male, 5-week old). After17 days, the compound of the present invention (18.5 kBq) was dissolvedin physiological saline (100 μl) containing 5% DMSO and administered tothe mice from the caudal vein. After 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 30minutes, the mice were sacrificed, and the weight and radioactivity ofeach organ were measured. The accumulation ratios in the tumor tissueand muscle tissue are shown in FIG. 1. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, thecompound of the present invention was demonstrated to accumulate in ahigher concentration in the tumor tissue than in the muscle in the invivo system using nude mice transplanted with SHIN-III.

The compounds of the present invention thus have superior property ofaccumulation in a tumor, and are useful for diagnosis of tumor asradioactive iodine-labeled scintigraphy imaging agents.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A scintigraphy imaging agent for imaging of a tumorsite, which comprises a radioactive iodine-labeled compound representedby the following formula (D:

wherein X represents a radioactive iodine atom which may substitute atan arbitrary position on the benzene ring, n represents an integer of 1to 3, R¹ and R² each independently represents a substituted orunsubstituted alkyl group, Y represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6carbon atoms, M represents a counter ion, and m represents the number ofions required to neutralize the charge of the molecule.